The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is proposing a motion to next Wednesday’s Council meeting (23 March) that Oldham Council should seek accreditation as a National Living Wage employer.
Councillor Sykes said: “I am proud as a Councillor when, in December 2013, Oldham Council adopted a resolution proposed by the Liberal Democrats to become a National Living Wage employer.”
“In April 2015, the National Living Wage was introduced for all Council staff, and five hundred and forty of our lowest paid staff received a pay rise as a result.”
“The Council should be proud of this achievement and we should say so publicly. One way of doing this is by applying for accreditation with the National Living Wage Foundation.”
Councillor Sykes is supported by his Liberal Democrat colleague Councillor Diane Williamson, who is seconding the motion.
Councillor Williamson added: “The Liberal Democrats believe that we should as a Council apply for formal accreditation. 1,800 other employers across the UK, including some local authorities, have already done this. This would allow the Council to publicly display the Living Wage Employer Mark. Not only would this be an example that other forward-thinking employers could follow in our Borough, but it would be an outward sign that Oldham Council pays a decent wage to its employees for a decent day work and would be a useful tool when recruiting staff.”
The motion is below:
Council 23rd March 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business –
Motion – Becoming an Accredited Living Wage Employer
Council notes that the Living Wage Foundation:
- Exists to recognise and celebrate the leadership shown by living wage employers in raising the living standards of workers.
- Establishes two Living Wage rates every year for employees outside and inside London.
- Has over 1,800 employers accredited with them, with over 1,000 having registered as payers of the National Living Wage in the past year.
- Permits accredited employers to proudly display the Living Wage Employer Mark.
Council further notes that:
- Oldham Council first resolved to become a National Living Wage employer as a result of a motion brought to full Council in December 2013
- The National Living Wage was introduced as the minimum pay scale for all staff in April 2015.
- As a result five hundred and forty staff had a pay increase.
- In his annual statement to September Council the Leader of the Council rightly highlighted the fact that this was a commendable achievement.
However despite this achievement, Oldham Council is not currently Living Wage accredited and therefore has not yet received the Living Wage Employer Mark.
Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to:
- Seek accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation and
- Ensure that the Living Wage Employer Mark is proudly displayed on appropriate pages within the Council’s website and in appropriate printed materials.